Perkiomenville Mennonite Church breaks ground for new church and community building

Residents along Route 29 in Perkiomenville saw a strange sight early Sunday afternoon: two large hay wagons being pulled by a tractor, filled with men, women, and children all in their Sunday best. It was the entire congregation of the Perkiomenville Mennonite Church, currently located on Deep Creek Road, going to the ground breaking ceremony at their new property on Route 29.

Perkiomenville Mennonite Church (PMC) was founded in 1935 as a Sunday School for the community children. Now, over 70 years later, it continues to be a vital force in the community with two Sunday services, Sunday School for all ages, Vacation Bible School, and a variety of programs that touch not only the lives of the surrounding community, but reach as far as Mexico and Chile where the congregation helps support two sister churches abroad.

In response to the growth of the church and the desire of the congregation to increase their involvement with the community, PMC purchased 20 acres of land on Route 29 several years ago, with a vision of raising a new building. That vision is now becoming a reality. The new building will not only house the church itself, but will offer a day care facility for local preschool children. The congregation hopes in the future to add counseling services, sports activities, and charity programs to benefit all the families in the community.

The ground breaking ceremony was filled with song and laughter, and everyone present had the opportunity to turn over shovelfuls of the thick, dark soil. With one voice, the congregation affirmed that the new building would be â€œused for worship, education, youth activities, recreation, and as a resource center for the community.â€

Pastor Charles Ness summarized the purpose for the new building during the ceremony: â€œWe break ground for this building in order that it may become a center of faith and renewal, a place of healing and hope.â€ And all those present responded, â€œAs we break ground this day, we step boldly into the future, and we do so to the glory of God.â€

The congregation anticipates opening the doors of the new building to the community by fall 2007.